Liquid measuring device



' Dec. 21, 1937.

J. J. CUBETE LIQUID MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1937 In yen/Zorn 4138 21 2 e ys.

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' Patented Dec. 21, 1937 U ED S TATES rem FFlCE.

LIQUID MEASURING DEVICE Joseph J. Cubete, Pittsburg, Kans. Application February 15, 1937, Serial No..125,790

'7 Claims.

(Granted under t he act of March 3; 1883,.as amendedApril-30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) sible an accurate visible indication of the liquid content in thetank. I

' The .inventi n will be from the following description in, conjunction with the accompanying drawing: in which, 7

Fig. 1 is 'ajsectional elevational View of altank containing an indicator embodying the invention; Fig.52 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;' and 2 ew of a modi- Fig: 3 is a detail fragmentary v1 fied form'of one of the parts.

: Before explaining in detail thepresentinvention it is to be understood that the invention is 'not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of' parts illustrated'intheaccompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried outinfvarious ways. Also it is to be understood-that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the'pur- "pose of description and not of limitation, and it is notintended' to limit the invention claimed herein beyond therequirer'nents of the prior art. In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated a tank I!) adaptedto contain a liquid H. A'liquid inlet conduit 12 is suitably connected to the top of the tank; The bottom of the tank may be provided with a cylindrical projection l5 to the bottom'of which a liquid discharge conduit l6-is suitably connected. The top of the tank l0 may be provided with a cylindrical proje'ctionTlg'the diameter of which may be slightly larger'than that of the projection 15, An opening providing access to' the interior of the tank is providedjat the top of the projection l1 and is normally closed by a detachable closure [8 which maybe secured in place as by locks I9.

more clearly understood level within the tube must be the same as that within the remainder of the tank l0. A-measuring element ispositioned to extend vertically within the tube 20 with its lower end in a socket 26 at the bottom of the projection l5 and its top supported by a bracket 21 carried by the tube 20. r The measuring element 25 is provided with a plurality of sets of perforations 28, each set forming a character C representative of a quantity of liquid. Each of the characters C is located, preferably inverted, upon the measuringelement 25 at a predetermined position to represent the quantity of liquid when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on said element. desired, the measuring element 25 maybe provided with a perforation 30 adjacent each of the vertical movement of the float while preventingturning of the latter. The float135is provided with an opening 34 normally. closed by a detach.- able cap 36'Whereby materials may be placed within the float to control and adjust its posi tion relative to the liquid level. The float is also provided with threaded studs 31 each carrying a pair of nuts'SB and 39 between which an annular plate 45] is adjustably positioned. The plate 40 isprovided with projections 4| and 42positioned at opposite sides of the measuring element 25. a

A deflector 43, such as a mirror; is adjustably hinged to the projection. 'For this purpose, the projection M and the deflector 43 are provided with cooperating hinged pintle bearings 44 and 65 respectively, adapted to receive a'hinge pintle 46. One end of the hinge pintle 46'is provided with a head 41 adapted to engage the outer edge of one of the bearings 45. The other'end of the hinge pintle45 is provided with a threaded portion 46a carrying a nut 48 adapted to engage the outer edge of the other bearing 45 to holdthe deflector at a desired inclination. A slate or screen 5!] is adjustably hinged to the projection 42. For this purpose the projection42 and slate 59 are provided with cooperating hinge pintle bearings 5i and 52 adapted to receive 'ahinge pintle 53. One'end of the hinge pintle 53 is iprovided with an enlarged'head 54 adapted toengage the outer edge of one of the bearings 52 and the other end of the hinge pintle is provided with a threaded portion 33 carrying a nut adapted to engage the outer surface of the other bearing 52, whereby the slate 50 may be positioned at a desired inclination.

The closure 68 is provided with an opening directly above the deflector 13 through which a light source projects. 'As illustrated. the light source comprises a lamp socket 5i carrying an' electric light bulb 62. If desired, the socket 5| may be provided with a reflector 63. The socket BI is provided with. a flange 64 adapted to rest upon the top edge of a threaded collar 65 surrounding the opening Bi! and secured to the outer surface of the closure is, A cap 66 is threaded upon the collar 65 to hold the flange B4 therebetween. window 68 is suitably secured to the inner surface of closure I8. A window H1 is provided in the closure 18 directly above the slate or screen As the level ofthe liquid in the tank l0 changes the position of the-float'35 changes. The deflector 43 and the screen 59 are arranged so as to be at all times opposite at least one of the characters C. The deflector 43 and screen 50 may be brought to this desired position by adjusting theposition of the plate 4!] with respect to the top of the float 35 by adjusting the two pairs of nuts SB-and 39 on the studs 3?. The deflector 43 and screen 59 may be brought to the desired inclination by loosening the nuts 48 and 55, respectively, and after the deflector and screen have been adjusted, again tightening the nuts 48 and 55. 'The weight of the float may be varied by adding or with-drawing weight through the tank opening 34, thus further assisting in bringing the deflector 43 and screen ,5!) to the desired position with respect to the element 25. When so adjusted the deflector 43 will project a beam of lightfrom the light source 62 through the adjacent light transmissible characters '0 to form an image I of the character upon the screen 50. This image I may be easily viewed from the exterior of the tank through the window 10= thus providing a visual indication of the liquid content in the tank. 7

If desired the measuring element 25 maybe modified as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3 the measuring element 25' comprises a plate or a'strip of glass i5 which is provided at its'longitudinal edges with reenforcements 16. At least one surface of the strip of glass 15 is provided with an opaquecoating l'i portions of which are removed to provide light transmissible characters C and graduations 3t and 3!.

' The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

' 1. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in combination, a measuring element fixed within the tank and extending into the liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions forming characters each of which is representative of the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is ata predetermined lower point on said element, a float carried by said liquid, 2.

window in said tank, a source of light, means positioned on said float for projecting a beam of light from said source'through the one of said characters corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, and means for causing said beam to A lamp housing 61 having aform an image of said character which may be viewed through said window.

2. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in combination, a measuring element fixed within the tank and extending into the liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions forming characters each of which is representative'oi the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on said element, a float carried by said liquid, a window in said tank, a source of light, means positioned on said float for projecting a beam of light from said source through the one of said characters corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, means for causing said beam to form an image of said character which may be viewed throughsaid window, and means for adjusting said light beam projecting means relative to said element. if i j 3. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in combination, a measuring element fixed'within the tank and extending into the-liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions forming characterseach of which is representative of the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on said element, a float carried by said liquid, a source of light, a light deflector carried by; said float adapted to deflect a light beamfrom said source through the one of saidcharacters' corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, and 'a screen carried by said float arranged to receive the deflected light beam as an image of said character which may be viewed through said window.

4. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in comr bination, a measuring element flxed within the tank and extending into the liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions forming inverted characters each of whichis representative of the quantity of liquid in the tank when the'liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on saidelement, a float carried by said liquid, a window in said tank, a source of light, means positioned on said float for projecting a beam of light from said source through the one of said characters "corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, and means for causing said beamto form an image of said character which may be viewed through said window.

5. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in combination, a measuring element fixed within the tank and extending into the liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions forming characters each of which is representative of the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower'point on said element, a float carried by said liquid, a window in said tank, a source of light, a plate adjustably carried by said float, means carried by said plate for projecting a beam of light from said source through the one ofv saidchar-acters corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, and means carried by said plate for causing said beam to form an image of said character which may be'viewed through said window.

6. In a liquid level indicator for tanks, in combination, a measuring element fixed within the tank and extending into the liquid therein, said element having light transmissible portions form- 'ing characters each of which is representative of the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on said element, afloat carried by said liquid, a window in said tank, a source of light, a plate adjustably carried by said float, a light deflector adjustably the quantity of liquid in the tank when the liquid level is at a predetermined lower point on said element, a float carried by said liquid,a window in the top of said tank, a source of light, a light deflector'carried by said float in an inclined position so as to deflect a light beam from said source through the one of said characters corresponding to the liquid level in the tank, and a screen carried by said float in an inclined position so as to receive said light beam as an image of said character 10 which may be viewed through said window..

JOSEPH J. CUBETE. 

